Vol. 3 Ch. 130

As midnight approached, the gates of the royal city slowly opened, and out marched the royal guards, followed by a large, grand parade vehicle.

But calling it a “landship” would be more accurate. Equipped with rows of wheels under its hull, it moved forward, surrounded by guards and soldiers on all sides.

Such tight security could mean only one thing:

Standing on the deck of the landship was the Empire’s king himself—

Canter.

Alongside him was his wife, Queen Elizabeth.

The king, draped in luxurious attire, held the queen’s arm with one hand and waved to his people with the other, projecting an image of a benevolent and approachable ruler.

According to Lantern Festival tradition, everyone would release their lanterns into the sky at midnight.

And this was also when King Canter and Queen Elizabeth would make their annual appearance to the public.

Back when Leon was in the Dragon Slayer Corps, the royal couple had different ways of making their entrance each year. Sometimes, they arrived by hot-air balloon, sometimes with illusion magic, and on a few occasions, they had hidden in the crowd only to emerge dramatically.

So this year’s “landship” entrance didn’t surprise Leon much.

According to Martin’s intel, the landship was set to arrive right on the border between the royal city and the upper district at exactly midnight.

At the same moment, thousands of paper lanterns, each equipped with recording stones, would be launched into the sky.

Leon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, watching as King Canter and his army drew closer.

There was a time when he, too, had served his country with pride, even risking his life to defend the king.

But all he’d received in return was betrayal and slander from the Empire.

Everything and everyone were merely tools for the ruling class to exploit, even the war itself, just another piece in their calculated game.

Now, the pawn who had dared to defy the board was back.

Old grievances and new vendettas would be settled tonight with that despicable emperor.

**Dong—Dong—Dong—**

The midnight bells began to toll.

With each resounding chime, countless paper lanterns floated into the sky, illuminating the night as if it were day.

Simultaneously, the massive landship reached its position at the border between the royal city and the upper district.

King Canter stepped forward to the ship’s bow, gazing down at the masses beneath him.

He held himself with the pride of a king, yet lacked any true royal presence.

Leon watched him quietly, poised to act.

“My beloved subjects,” King Canter began, “another Lantern Festival has come. On behalf of the royal family, I extend our gratitude for your contributions to the Empire this past year!”

*Contributions.*

Taxes never owed, battles never chosen, labor never fairly compensated...

Even those who weren’t part of the Lionheart Society were aware of the Empire’s darkness. But who among them dared to tear away that thin veil of pretense?

The people’s only response to the king’s hollow words was polite applause.

King Canter basked in their cheers before gesturing for them to quiet down.

“Now, don’t let my presence distract from the festival. Continue with the lanterns!” he announced.

Finally.

Everyone on the streets breathed a silent sigh of relief.

And this was the moment Leon and the Lionheart Society had been waiting for.

At midnight, all five districts released their lanterns simultaneously. And at that moment, members of the Lionheart Society activated the recording stones hidden inside the lanterns.

Leon’s mentor had once told him that the world was a vast, intricate machine and that he was merely a cog.

But tonight, Leon was done being a cog. He would seize control of this machine and make it move as he willed.

As the people and the king admired the lanterns, a brilliant light began to emanate from within each lantern.

The light was like a wildfire, spreading from the slums to the upper district and even to the royal city itself.

Anyone could tell that this was no ordinary glow—it was the unmistakable shimmer of magic.

The spectacle quickly drew everyone’s attention.

“What is that…”

“Mama, look! It’s so pretty! Even further away, there are more lights!”

“Is that… the light of recording stones? But who would fill so many lanterns with recording stones?”

“Maybe the real question is *who could* do it? The papers said these were all specially made by the royal family. If it isn’t a new feature, then whoever did this… has some serious guts.”

King Canter, looking up at the glowing lanterns, frowned and asked sharply, “Who arranged this? Why wasn’t I informed?”

A guard beside him quickly bowed his head. “Your Majesty, this wasn’t part of our plan…”

“Are those recording stones in there?” the king demanded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

If it wasn’t a royal initiative, then someone was clearly tampering with the festival. And with so many recording stones, it was likely a message or video meant to be broadcast across the Empire.

King Canter would not allow anything that might undermine his authority. Immediately, he commanded, “Send word—shoot down every lantern!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

But before the order could be carried out, a figure cloaked in black stepped forward onto the landship’s deck.

The guards raised their spears and guns, aiming at the stranger.

The king squinted, studying the figure. “Who is that…”

“Halt!” shouted the guard captain, pointing his sword directly at the cloaked figure. “Take one more step, and you’ll be killed!”

The figure stopped as ordered.

But it wasn’t out of fear.

Instead, he calmly pulled a paper lantern from beneath his cloak, slowly unfolding it as the guards looked on in astonishment.

A breeze swept through, knocking back the figure’s hood to reveal his scarred face and dark hair.

Someone in the crowd recognized him immediately.

“L-Leon Casmod! It’s Leon!”

“Prepare for battle!” the guards cried.

Their tension was expected—after all, Leon posed as much a threat to them as any Dragon King.

Yet, even as dozens of guns and swords were pointed his way, Leon remained unfazed.

Holding the paper lantern given to him by Teacher Caroline and the children of the Casmod Orphanage, he snapped his fingers over the fuel inlet.

A small spark flared, igniting the alcohol-soaked wick, and the lantern began to rise into the sky.

“Before you act,” Leon said, finally breaking his silence.

The sound of his voice alone seemed to cast a spell over the guards, paralyzing them with a sense of impending doom.

They tightened their grips on their weapons. Though they faced an unarmed man, none dared make the first move.

After all, this was Leon.

“I hope you watch what comes next carefully. Only then should you decide whether you want to stand in my way,” Leon declared, his voice loud enough for everyone, even King Canter and Queen Elizabeth, to hear.

The king and queen exchanged glances, bewildered. Not only was Leon somehow back in the Empire, but what were the contents of those recording stones?

Queen Elizabeth gritted her teeth and, after a brief hesitation, gave the order.

“Seize the traitor Leon Casmod!”

But even with her command, the guards hesitated, reluctant to confront Leon.

They knew his strength all too well; after all, they had once fought beside him.

“You…!” Elizabeth began angrily.

A low hum suddenly interrupted her.

Overhead, tens of thousands of lanterns glowed with a faint green light, synchronizing to form a spell circle.

But there was no immediate sound or image.

Elizabeth frowned. “What trickery… Enough stalling! Seize him! Don’t forget who you serve!”

As Leon’s lantern ascended, it completed the spell circle, and the resonance between the recording stones activated.

In an instant, a massive image appeared in the sky above the Empire.

The image was none other than that of King Canter and Queen Elizabeth on the landship.

“What… What is he doing…” Canter gritted his teeth.

Voices began to emanate from the image:

“The Dagger Plan is proceeding smoothly. Even without Leon, we can easily manipulate this war alongside the Dragon Kings.”

“Brilliant, Your Majesty.”

“This is all thanks to you, Scott. I heard you were the one who formed the Dagger Trio. You’ve done the Empire a great service.”

“You’re too kind, Your Majesty. I only did my duty.”

“Good. With that attitude, you’re already leagues above Casmod, who never understood his place. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ended up as an enemy of the Empire.”

“There have been protests about the new tax reforms. Should we reconsider?”

“No need. If they want to eat in this Empire, they must obey. Let them complain.”

“You’re right, Canter. Throwing a few officials under the bus every now and then makes the idiots think we’re on their side. In reality… ha!”

On the recording, they shamelessly laid bare their twisted schemes.

If it hadn’t been for Martin’s daring capture of this recording…

If it hadn’t been for Leon’s willingness to expose it all…

If the Lionheart Society hadn’t prepared so meticulously…

These vile truths would have continued to rot the Empire from within, infecting the state until it crumbled like decayed wood.

As the footage ended, Leon stood in silence. He knew what would come next.

“Canter! You despicable tyrant!” someone shouted.

“My son joined the Dragon Slayer Corps to protect this country and gave his life on the battlefield. And all along, this war was just a game to you? Canter,

give me back my son!”

“So, to you, we’re just tax-paying, cannon-fodder peasants, is that it?”

“This country doesn’t belong to you alone! We won’t let you trample it underfoot!”

The anger and grievances, suppressed for so long, erupted.

The citizens surged forward, closing in on the landship.

Even the royal guards wavered, unsure whether to strike down their fellow citizens or abandon a ruler who had betrayed them all.

Everything was happening too fast for Canter to process. Mouth agape, he looked around, lost and uncertain.

“Leon Casmod! You damned traitor!” he shrieked. “How dare you disturb the peace of Lantern Festival! Seize him!”

At his command, three figures leaped down, landing before Leon.

The atmosphere around them was thick with murderous intent, though one of the three was missing an arm.

“Casmod,” muttered Kini, leader of the Dagger Trio. “We meet again, though under unexpected circumstances.”

Leon gazed at him coolly. “So, even after seeing Canter’s treachery, you choose to serve him?”

“Loyalty doesn’t matter to us. We just want to kill Dragon Kings and make a name for ourselves. The Empire gives us that chance,” Kini replied. “We don’t care if this war is a staged game. So long as there’s blood to shed, we’ll play our part.”

Leon scoffed. “Pity. If you had any remorse, I might have spared you for my master’s sake.”

“Oh, so he’s still alive?” Kini sneered.

“My master is alive and well, but as for you three… you’re not long for this world.”

As Leon spoke, a palpable wave of killing intent surged from him, sending a shiver through even the battle-hardened Dagger Trio.

Leon rarely unleashed his full bloodlust, but these three had left his master gravely wounded. Had it not been for his master’s wife, the old man would be dead.

This was a debt Leon intended to repay in full.

Queen Elizabeth screamed from the landship’s deck.

“It’s not enough! Scott, release the fusion beasts and dangerous creatures! Crush Leon utterly!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

At his command, the ground shook violently.

Citizens scattered, frantically seeking shelter.

As they cleared the streets, the ground erupted, splitting open, and monsters began to crawl out of the cracks.

They howled and shrieked like souls freed from hell.

In an instant, Leon was surrounded by the Dagger Trio and dozens of fusion beasts and dangerous creatures.

“Casmod, no matter how skilled you are, you can’t fight all of us. How do you plan to escape now?” Queen Elizabeth sneered, confident of her victory.

“Escape?” Leon chuckled. “If I’m standing here, it’s because I never intended to run.”

“Then you must be delusional. Those fusion beasts could crush you with sheer numbers alone,” she taunted.

“What good is quantity? They’re nothing but ants.”

“Arrogant to the end, aren’t you! You—”

“And besides…” Leon raised his hand, silencing her. “Did you think you were the only one with backup?”

“What?” she exclaimed.

Leon snapped his fingers.

In the next instant, a dragon’s roar echoed through the night sky.

The people of the upper district looked up to see a massive blue sea dragon soaring overhead. With a graceful dive, it landed beside Leon and transformed into a blue-haired beauty.

“The Sea Dragon Princess, Claudia.”

“It’s… the dragons…” Elizabeth gasped, her eyes wide with terror.

Before the crowd could process this stunning entrance, a powerful gust swept over them.

A giant silver figure with massive wings descended from the sky and took her place beside Leon.

After returning to her human form, a tall, silver-haired woman stood proudly, radiating a fierce, unyielding aura.

“The Silver Dragon King, Rosvisser.”

Leon crossed his arms, grinning as he met Elizabeth’s horrified gaze.

“If you thought that was all, then—”

Boom—

A crimson figure crashed down in a classic superhero landing.

Leon introduced his final ally of the night.

“The Red Flame Dragon King, Konstantin.”

_____________________

TL NOTE

: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - I'd really like to see how far Leon goes and how far we can increase the number of chapters. Thanks~!